Chancellor to step down, graduation fest celebrates success, and seeking your Insight – 2 September 2025

02 Sep 2025
VC Message
Edition 16 2025
David Gonski

Dear colleagues

Not even the constant rain could dampen the spirits of the 2915 graduates and 10,000 guests who gathered on campus during the August Graduation Festival, celebrating years of dedication and achievement. Across the week, 15 ceremonies and post-event receptions were held – each one buzzing with energy, pride and excitement about the future. Thank you to the Graduations and Graduation Events teams for bringing these memorable celebrations to life for our graduates and their loved ones. The graduation festivals are a highlight of campus life and a powerful reminder of our purpose as a world-leading university.

During the Graduation Festival, UNSW conferred honorary degrees on five distinguished individuals whose contributions span cyber security, ethical technology leadership, healthcare, mental health and Indigenous Knowledges. Congratulations Brigadier (Ret'd) Alison Creagh AM CSC, Dr Catriona Wallace, Lucinda Brogden AM, Dr Jennifer Alexander and Robert ‘Bintar’ Cooley (pictured top with UNSW Chancellor David Gonski AC). Read more in Inside UNSW.

David Gonski to step down as Chancellor at the end of 2025

 

As you may have read in the email I sent to colleagues yesterday, after two decades of distinguished service, Mr David Gonski AC will step down as Chancellor of UNSW Sydney at the end of the year.

David is an exemplary leader whose steadfast dedication and profound impact have shaped the very fabric of our University. Since his appointment as Chancellor in 2005 — when he became the first alumnus to hold the role — he has served as an extraordinary advocate for UNSW and a guiding force in our evolution. 

David has stewarded UNSW safely through complex financial, governance and strategic decisions, and the major shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. His wisdom, calm leadership and exceptional ability to bring people together across diverse perspectives have been invaluable in navigating these defining moments and ensuring the University’s success for generations to come.

His contributions to UNSW and to Australian civil society are as impressive as they are comprehensive. I encourage you to read the Newsroom story about David for a deeper understanding of his incredibly significant impact on UNSW over the past 20 years.

UNSW has been very fortunate to have a steward of the calibre of David as our Chancellor. He is a man of insight, generosity and influence: a philanthropist, leader, adviser, advocate and mentor who has provided a constancy that has helped UNSW go from strength to strength over two decades.

As David prepares to step down as Chancellor, I extend my very best wishes for the future. I know you will join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to David for his exceptional service to UNSW, to higher education and to Australian society more broadly. 

David’s legacy will continue to inspire and guide UNSW for many years to come.

UNSW top teaching and learning experience recognised at AFR Awards

I’m pleased to share that UNSW has taken out the top prize for ‘Teaching and Learning Experience’ at the 2025 Australian Financial Review (AFR) Higher Education Awards, thanks to an innovative educational tool called Play Platform developed by Professor Isabella Dobrescu and Professor Alberto Motta from UNSW Business School. The tool integrates course content into immersive, game-based learning experiences that are both engaging and enjoyable and, importantly, help knowledge stick. Initially used to teach economics, Play Platform has expanded to UNSW’s Engineering and Medicine & Health faculties and to high schools and universities across Australia and internationally. 

This is an outstanding example of UNSW’s commitment to drive innovation and excellence in education. Initiatives like this are emblematic of the new approaches to learning at universities, providing exemplary tools and outcomes for our students and extending teaching and learning beyond our gates. Congratulations to the Play Platform team!

I would also like to congratulate Professor Daniel Ghezelbash, Director of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at UNSW, who was named a finalist in the Emerging Leader category at the awards. Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.

UNSW and NeuRA renew commitment to advancing neuroscience research 

UNSW and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) have renewed our longstanding affiliation, signing a 10-year agreement that will commence on 1 January 2026. 

Over the years, UNSW and NeuRA have seen some fantastic outcomes from our affiliation, like forming the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, and the Centre for Pain Impact at NeuRA, and helping to establish the Sydney Brain Bank. Our organisations have worked hand-in-hand to deliver meaningful research outcomes in areas such as dementia, mental health, chronic pain and falls prevention.

This renewed partnership builds on a shared vision to translate our world-class research and education into major improvements in health, underpinned by our mission of Progress for All. With this next phase of our collaboration, we open an exciting new chapter in neuroscience, one that will accelerate clinical translation and improve lives through groundbreaking science. Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility

As I have mentioned previously, the safety of students, colleagues and the wider UNSW community is one of my top priorities. It’s essential that we return to first principles and ensure that safety is an essential part of everyone's job and not the role of designated ‘safety’ staff. Working safely should be integrated into the way we work, and not an add-on to our core business. By embracing these two core principles, we can make safety a fundamental part of our University culture.

Staff Town Hall wrap-up

Thank you to the thousands of colleagues who joined the all-staff Town Hall yesterday. I think we hit almost 3500 participants at one point, and I again reiterate my thanks for so many of you taking time from your busy day to attend. I was joined by Professor Vlado Perkovic, Provost, and Vinita Chanan, Executive Director University Strategy, to share updates on the UNSW Strategy, the new academic calendar and a range of other University initiatives and achievements. A standout during the forum was the engaging 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) presentation by third year PhD candidate Lilly Hatwell from the Garvan Institute and last year’s 3MT winner. Lilly presented her research titled: ‘Novel insights into oncogenic estrogen receptor signalling in treatment resistant breast cancer’.

Thanks to many colleagues who contributed to  the Q&A session. While we couldn’t get to every question during the forum, as with previous Town Halls, we’ll follow up with direct responses as soon as possible and put a summary list in Inside UNSW. Thank you again to everyone who took part.

A huge thank you to the Audio-Visual Team in Venue and Event Services for their expertise which ensured yesterday’s all-staff forum ran seamlessly. 

2025 Insight Staff Engagement Survey

In 2023, we launched the Insight staff engagement surveys to better understand your experiences of working at UNSW – what we are doing well and where we can improve. Your feedback has been invaluable. I committed to doing it every couple of years and so last week you received an email from me and UNSW’s Chief People Officer Gemma Martin about the 2025 Insight Survey. Tomorrow, all fixed term and continuing staff who started before Thursday 31 July 2025 and casual staff who have been paid in the month up to Thursday 31 July 2025 will receive an email inviting them to participate.

The survey will remain open for three weeks, closing on Wednesday 24 September. It takes about 10–15 minutes to complete, and your responses are voluntary, confidential and secure.

Based on what you told us, in 2023 we have focused on enhancing leadership development and acting on innovative ideas across UNSW. As well as continuing our razor-sharp focus on safety. 

Last year’s Insight Pulse survey helped us check in on our progress. Encouragingly, you told us that you have seen improvements in leadership and innovation, with both being rated more favourably – clear signs that we are moving in the right direction. 

Your voice matters. Both for determining cross-organisation improvements, but also even more importantly identifying the opportunities in local groups for making our workplace better. That’s why I encourage you to complete the 2025 Insight Survey. The more voices we hear, the better we can all understand what’s working and where we can do better. 

After the survey closes, we will share the results and continue working together to take meaningful action. Find out more about the survey in this edition of Inside UNSW. 

The sun shines on the UNSW Rowing Club

Not a cloud in the sky: UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs joins members of the UNSW Rowing Club at Huntleys Cove.

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of catching up with the wonderful UNSW Rowing squad over breakfast at the club sheds at Huntleys Cove. I enjoyed spending time with this dedicated team and hearing about their season and their fantastic programs to encourage students to get involved in rowing at any level of experience. It was great to join the eight on the water for one of their training sessions. What a workout! 

There’s more to read Inside UNSW…

All the very best

Attila

Professor Attila Brungs
Vice-Chancellor & President

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